Any advice on preparing for being a Professor in USA?

[Diplomacy]

I was looking to see if we had any members that know anything about the process of University level employment?  It is not my area and have talked to a couple of people, but they were not a very big help.

I was going to call a University and try to talk to a Department head. Try to see if I cold get some information, on what and how to go about preparing for the steps. What they look for in a candidate in Social Studies at the professor level,  ideas as to what to shoot for as a foot in the door.

I have talked at length with her about the matter and she is prepared for having to pretty much start over here.  That there most likely will be a need of additional coursework here.  I just really have no idea if there is any groundwork I could be doing or if it is an exercise in futility.

She is really taken great effort to improve and improve on her English.  It is better than some profs I had at University, that much I know.  I just do not know what the weight of the PHD degree is from Ukraine.

I thought this would be as good as any place to start.  Thank you to anyone that can help.  Good, bad, or indifferent I can handle it.

[Jooky]

Wow, how did my post wind up over here... ha ha 

[Vaughn]

  I just do not know what the weight of the PHD degree is from Ukraine.

Diplomacy, this same subject came up recently - and I'll be damned if I can find it.
Check the Wiki link for transferability of credentials... and good luck.

http://www.russianwomendiscussion.com/mwiki/index.php?title=Education/Credentials_Review

[Misha]

What they look for in a candidate in Social Studies at the professor level,  ideas as to what to shoot for as a foot in the door.

When an American university hires someone, they will invariably put an ad out. This will be listed on their website and will the sent to the appropriate professional organizations.

Note that universities don't usually have social studies. They will have disciplines such as sociology, anthropology, geography, etc...

[Diplomacy]

Vaughn

Thanks

Jooky- Well guess you are stalking me now lol

Misha-  Sociology, I have no idea why I wrote Social Studies.  I was talking to a teacher today to get an idea of what the 3rd grade curriculum was like, so I can try to use the summer to get help him.  I think I fused the 2 conversations.  Just not trying to waste time before they get here.

We are both well educated and hope at 7 he will learn fast.  I just worry about ESL classes in Texas, my guess is he will  be fluent in Spanish and not learn English as fast.  That is probably a whole new topic idea.

 

[Vaughn]

We are both well educated and hope at 7 he will learn fast.

Oh, he'll be chattering in good English very quickly. Probably with little or no trace of accent.
Even with a marginal ESL program. The kids soak up language like a sponge. At 7 years of age,
the bigger challenge will be keeping him fluent in the first language. 

[Diplomacy]

Vaugh:

I am ahead of him at this point on words I know in Russian versus what he knows in English.  I am just plugging away at it daily, it is important to me that he stays fluent.

I got a long way to go as far as my Russian goes, but I am committed to it.  I want to be able to have real conversations with her parents also.  Her father and I are getting closer for sure.  Her Mama just seems to be concerned about my health and eating for the most part.  She has no issue voicing her opinion on anything and everything lol.

[Pike]

Diplomacy, the requirements and procedures for obtaining a college or university  (C or U) level appointment in USA are completely different than that talked about by others here with respect to secondary education level teachers.

One of the main differences is that C and U are not bound up by state certification rules that apply to secondary schools.  However, most 2 year or community colleges are similar to secondary schools re the endless paperwork required.

C and U are concerned with subject knowledge, not bureaucratic procedures.

But, this leads to a second major difference.  C and U will be looking for publications in internationally recognized refereed journals.  No amount of credits accumulated matter to C and U as they do to secondary schools.  C and U look for output, not input.  If a person can get articles published in highly regarded scholarly journals . . . universities could care less where the PhD comes from.  If the articles are good enough and ground breaking . . . then advanced degrees aren't even necessary; but it is rare that someone is good enough without some rigorous training at the PhD level to publish such articles.

The good news for your gal is that C and U in USA hire people from most countries of the world.  The bad news for your gal is that her speciality does not have a good supply vs demand outlook.  It is a rather soft discipline that is over run by home grown variety PhDs. 

Best find a gal who has a PhD in Business, Engineering, Computer Science, Basic Sciences, or some medical field.  :-))

[Diplomacy]

Well Pike the first disciplines are what I have lol.  She does have some published work, so that is a start I guess.  There is always the teaching certificate, social worker or journey into other pursuits.

[Misha]

The good news for your gal is that C and U in USA hire people from most countries of the world.  The bad news for your gal is that her speciality does not have a good supply vs demand outlook.  It is a rather soft discipline that is over run by home grown variety PhDs. 

Not quite true. It depends on her area of research. There are now a number of other disciplines that are interdisciplinary and interested in international research.

However, it is important to note the difference between tenure-track positions (permanent) and instructor positions (temporary teaching positions). The latter tend to be easier to find.

Best find a gal who has a PhD in Business, Engineering, Computer Science, Basic Sciences, or some medical field.  :-))

At this point, it is a bit late to find someone else.

[Diplomacy]

He put a smile in there, he was a different sense of humor.  Thanks Misha!  Her best friend is K-12 and they took time to get her settled in.  Then they had a baby and now that he is 3, they are working on her teaching certificate. 

I just had no idea on higher education.  Life is what it is, we talked about this going to be a long, hard road.  If we can not survive on what I make for a while, then we got bigger problems.  Just working towards the ultimate goal is going to be fine with her, I told her most of this. We have to just keep trying to find a sense of purpose until she finds one.

[Misha]

Thanks Misha!  Her best friend is K-12 and they took time to get her settled in. 

One thing, I would not suggest that you call the department head, but once she is settled in, she might want to do a search on the websites of the universities close to where you live. She should try to find a few people doing research in her field and get in contact with them for a coffee and chat as to how they could collaborate. If she builds up a network, she will be able to get good advice as to where and how to look for jobs.

[Diplomacy]

Thanks Misha, that was one of my last ditch plans.  I think I got enough to realize now this has to be done in a manner way different than I live life.  Who knows maybe I can write and article and get published.

Let me see, yes the social effects of having to spend all weekend cleaning instead of being in the Great Outdoors.  I could then relay the different cleaning methods, and an analysis of which cleaning solution is best.

My Lab is not very happy with me right now.  I think when she has a 7 yo boy to play with it will be all OK. 

[Chicagoguy]

It seems to me we have an abundance of PhD's in the U.S. right now. Many of the American ones I know can only find work as Adjunct Professors, usually at local Junior Colleges. Tenure is very difficult. Not great jobs but maybe a stepping stone.

[Gator]

Diplomacy,

I have two well informed resources for you.

1.   JB - JB's Muscovite wife is a professor.  Unfortunately, he does not post here anymore.

Nevertheless, he is a solid citizen and would be happy to advise you if you make contact.  I suggest that you send him a PM under his member name.

It that does not work, JB now and then participates at another forum.

2.  Simoni - Simoni is an English professor recently married to a UW.  Try contacting him by PM.  If that fails, he also participates at the other forum.

Hope this helps you.

[Diplomacy]

Will Do thanks Gator!

[AnastassiaAsh]

First your wife will have to have her PHD Diploma and other certificates or diplomas reevaluated here:

http://www.jsilny.com/
http://www.ece.org/
http://www.ierf.org/
http://www.naces.org/members.htm

For that first she will need her docs to be translated and certified by a certified translator.

Then with that US credential reevaluation in hand she should pay a visit to the Universities near by that you are thinking about and ask them specifically what rules and options they have for her.

[Diplomacy]

Dissertation is being sent also for translation.

[AnastassiaAsh]

You don't NEED her dissertation to be translated, but if you want so, probably can be a great beginning for the book one day that she can publish in the future...

[pitbull]

Also, if she decides to apply for faculty positions, she needs 2-3 published papers translated into English. She will also need to prepare a good academic CV, and ask for 3-4 recommendations from her colleagues (the more famous people write her recommendations, the better chances she has). Unless she got her PhD from the Moscow State University and has published in international journals in English, it will be impossible to find a tenure-track position, especially in sociology.

Many colleges have instituted hiring freezes because of the economy and the job market in academia overall is terrible.

There is a chance for an instructor/lecturer/adjunct position at a smaller college, or a community college. Pays peanuts though.

Her English has to be impeccable for sociology. Alas, not nearly as important for hard sciences.

Hope this helps.

[pitbull]

First your wife will have to have her PHD Diploma and other certificates or diplomas reevaluated here:

http://www.jsilny.com/
http://www.ece.org/
http://www.ierf.org/
http://www.naces.org/members.htm

For that first she will need her docs to be translated and certified by a certified translator.

Then with that US credential reevaluation in hand she should pay a visit to the Universities near by that you are thinking about and ask them specifically what rules and options they have for her.

Interestingly enough, I have never been asked for proof of PhD by a college here. I think that the general assumpsion is that you have to add so many other documents supporting your high qualifications, that PhD is just the basic prerequisite. Or maybe it's just a part of American academic culture. Honesty is really valued anscultivated in the academy.

[Misha]

Interestingly enough, I have never been asked for proof of PhD by a college here. I think that the general assumpsion is that you have to add so many other documents supporting your high qualifications, that PhD is just the basic prerequisite. Or maybe it's just a part of American academic culture. Honesty is really valued anscultivated in the academy.

In Canada, a copy of your diploma would normally be required by the HR office once you are hired to confirm your status. It would not be required prior to the interview.

[Diplomacy]

We have been brainstorming on the whole situation.  I broke out the discipline and what aspects she is passionate about.  We will keep trying until she finds happiness and a sense of purpose.  The culture of America and understanding what we do and why we do it is the first step.  Udachi on that one, been here a while and still not sure sometimes.

Closed captioning and Tivo of documentaries pertaining to Sociology in English.  Time to make a server with a large hard drive and storage array. 

Immersion for her son and his success in the American Education system is priority one.  He faces a longer school day and is the class clown already.  We are both working together in our pursuits of removing the language barrier.  He breaks words and sentences down for me in Skype when he is home.  Then I work on English he is learning to remove accent.  Reality is, he learns better from me then having to sit down and study.  What 7 yo likes that?

Charity or volunteerism as she calls it was first not really being a professor.  Well that one is a great idea. You get out and build a network of friends, and do some good in the world at the same time.  You can also work towards a paid position in the Non-profit sector also. 

Child Care-  My friend's wife works for a child care center that has a curriculum also.  As luck has it the owner adopted two Russian boys and she understand the culture after several trips.  She would give her a job and mentor her at the same time.  The owner is a retired Principal and is willing to help if she wants to teach in K-12 with certificate and exam.

Work together to have English articles published.  I am very active in several areas of social reform and the effects of those members of society that are often considered non productive members of society.  Sounds fun and interesting to work on some ideas that would be of interest for Publication.

Expectations have been set properly and I also said that life is what you make of it.  I am here to support you with the job of finding the life you always dreamed of.  She knows what obstacles our friend faced, and we are removing one at a time.  Language is the largest one, our friend knew barely any 10 years ago.